Located 2kms North of the Mayavaram bus
stand on the Northern banks of Cauvery is the Parimala Rangan Divya Desam in
Thiru Indhalur, a Pancha Ranga Kshetram where the Lord is seen in a grand Veera
Sayana Posture displaying his four hands. The other Pancha
Kshetrams are Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Srirangapatnam
Ranganatha, Koviladi Appaala Ranganatha and Kumbakonam Madhya Rangam.

Chandran’s Curse

The story goes that
Chandran (Moon God) fell in love with his preceptor Brihaspati’s wife Tara
and eloped with her, in the absence of his Guru. When Brihaspati found his wife
missing, he sought the help of Brahmma who asked Tara to return to her husband.

Later, when Tara’s pregnancy came to light, a
furious Brihaspati cursed Chandra to deformity saying that the biggest sin of
life is to caste one’s eyes on another’s spouse and that Chandran would have to
undergo the full severity of the curse for having cast his eyes wrongfully on another's wife.

Another story goes that Dakshan was so
taken in by Chandran’s handsome features that he decided to make him the suitor
for his 27daughters. However, Chandran was interested only in one of the
daughters, Rohini and mockingly ignored the others.

Dakshan found that the handsome looks had made Chandran too arrogant and cursed him to immediately lose his youth and his strong
luring features.

Repenting for wrongly casting his eye on
another man’s wife, Chandran requested Brihaspati to provide him an opportunity for performing parikara
that could help him cleanse his grave sins.

3Phased ParikaraAs part of the 3 fold parikara, Chandra
undertook penance here at Thiru Indhalur after bathing at the sacred Theertham, invoking the
blessings of Lord Vishnu. Answering his prayers, Lord appeared
before him and agreed to liberate him from part of the sins.

(The story goes that Chandran went to
Thalai Changa Naan Mathiyam, another Divya Desam about 15 East of Thiru
Indhalur, where he was fully liberated from his curse and dosham).

The Name Indhalur
Pleased with being partly liberated from his curse, Chandran (another name of
Chandran is Indhu) requested that this place be called Indhalur in his memory.

When a friend keeps a thing that we want and does not want to share with us, we
typically say

‘Keep it to yourself’ in jest. Similarly,
here, with the Lord not allowing Thirumangai Azhvaar an entry into the temple,
the Azhvaar asked Parimala Rangan to keep all his beauty to himself and to
enjoy it on his own.

ThiruMangai Azhvaar goes on to argue that the world would talk about the Lord in
bad light as he shut the door on the Azhvaar. The Lord ignores this comment of
the Azhvaar saying that he need not worry about it and that he will take care
of any ill feelings.

Despite repeated attempts to impress the Lord to allow him an entry, Parimala
Rangan maintains his silence. A dejected and frustrated Thiru Mangai Azhvaar
decided that he would leave the place as the Lord was stubborn at not allowing
Darshan to the Azhvaar.

Sensing that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar may actually leave the place without praising
him enough, Lord Parimala Rangan tries to prolong the argument and asks him to
sing praise of him. Thiru Mangai Azhvaar replies saying “How can I shower
praise on you when you do not allow me to see you”. Lord Parimala Ranga says
“You who have sung praises of other Lords, sitting in your place, do sing
praise of me too so I can happily listen to your sweet songs.”

ThiruMangai Azhvaar
finally fell for it and composed verses of praise on Parimala Rangan.

Month Long Festival in Aipasi

It is believed that a bath in the Cauvery
here during Aipasi is sacred. During
this month, the temple attracts devotees from across the country.

King Ambarish built this temple. There are several
beautiful sculptures inside this temple.

2 comments:

The details given are really helpful while visiting the divya deams. Thanks a lot.

I would like to add on more: If any one want to visit Thirukannapuram, from Mayiladuthrurai by us - Ask for a bus which goes to Sannanallur which is 45 mts from Mayiladuthurai. Get down there and take bus proceeding to Nagai and get down at Thirupugalore. From thirupugalore one can go by walk or take an auto up and down which would cost around Rs.50/-